Frequently Asked Questions
Learn how our Direct Primary Care model works, what membership includes, and how we provide personalized, relationship-based care.
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Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a modern healthcare model where you have a direct relationship with your doctor, without insurance in the middle.
Instead of billing insurance for each visit, you pay a simple monthly membership fee. This membership covers most primary care services, including office visits, longer appointments, same- or next-day visits, secure messaging, and ongoing care coordination.
Because insurance paperwork is removed, your doctor can spend more time with you, focus on prevention and whole-person care, and tailor treatment plans to your lifestyle and goals.
Please note that the DPC model is not insurance.
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This is not a concierge practice, but it offers a concierge-level experience.
Direct Primary Care is recognized in California as a healthcare model that does not bill insurance and operates on a transparent monthly membership fee for primary care services only. While it is not insurance and does not charge high annual retainers, the practice delivers concierge-style care—longer visits, easy access to your physician, and highly personalized, relationship-based care.
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Yes, we strongly recommend keeping medical insurance.
Vialta Direct Primary Care is not insurance and covers primary care services only. You will need your insurance coverage for hospital care, emergencies, imaging, and specialist services, while using DPC membership for comprehensive, day-to-day primary care.
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We do not accept or bill insurance.
As a Direct Primary Care practice, we operate on a simple monthly membership model and are considered a non–insurance-based medical practice. Patients are encouraged to keep their own health insurance for services outside of primary care, such as hospital care, imaging, and specialty services.
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At this time, we are unable to enroll patients with Medicare.
Due to current Medicare regulations, physicians who have not opted out of Medicare are not permitted to provide membership-based primary care outside of Medicare billing. We understand this may be disappointing and are happy to help answer questions or guide you toward appropriate care options.
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Because our practice does not bill insurance, you may choose to receive your primary care here. Please note that we are not able to place referrals or order certain imaging or specialty services within Kaiser or HMO insurance networks, so those services would need to be coordinated by your primary care physician within your network.
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We do not accept walk-ins.
To ensure unhurried, personalized care for our members, visits are scheduled by appointment only. Same- or next-day appointments are often available, and members can easily request visits through our secure messaging or online scheduling system.
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I am not available 24/7.
As a physician, a mother, and a human, maintaining a healthy work–life balance allows me to provide thoughtful, attentive care during our time together. Urgent medical concerns may be addressed after hours when appropriate, while non-urgent messages are reviewed and responded to on the next business day. For medical emergencies, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
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We care for adults ages 18 and older. Our practice primarily focuses on busy adults, with special expertise in weight management and peri- and menopause care, while continuing to provide comprehensive primary care tailored to each patient’s individual needs.
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No, there is no long-term commitment.
Membership is month-to-month, and you may cancel at any time with 30 days advance notice. We believe patients should stay because they value the care and relationship—not because they are locked into a contract.
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This is not a functional medicine practice.
Care is rooted in evidence-based, board-certified family medicine, with a thoughtful, whole-person approach. Patients can expect personalized care focused on prevention, lifestyle guidance, weight management, and peri- and menopause care, using treatments and recommendations supported by strong scientific evidence—not alternative or unproven therapies.
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In accordance with our scope of practice and clinical focus, we do not manage chronic pain with opioid medications, prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety or sleep disorders, or provide long-term disability evaluations, workers’ compensation care, or emotional support animal letters.
When appropriate, we are happy to assist with referrals to specialists or community resources for care outside the scope of our practice.
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